I took Yo to training yesterday afternoon and met Chris who is a coach at Warren Middle School in Forney. Very nice to meet you!
On the Court (Volleyball)
Texas Tech volleyball will host Kansas State tonight, first serve at 6:00 pm at the United Supermarkets Arena and then will host Colorado on Saturday at 8:00 pm.
On the Pitch
Texas Tech soccer continues to rack up awards and wins with Faith Nguyen and Taylor Zdrojewski as Faith won the Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week award for the 2nd straight week and Zdrojewski as the Co-Offensive Player of the Week. Congrats!
On the Gridiron
ESPN’s Craig Haubert on the top 50 classes and this class is at No. 50:
50. Texas Tech Red Raiders
ESPN 300 commits: 0
Top offensive prospect: WR Bryson Jones
Top defensive prospect: LB Brock Golwas
Previous ranking: 50
Joey McGuire elevated the Red Raiders’ recruiting upon his arrival in Lubbock. He’s looking to build on the momentum of a top-25 class in 2024 that featured five-star receiver Micah Hudson. Texas Tech has landed additional talented in-state receivers in Bryson Jones and Tristian Gentry. Jones is a lengthy target and is an excellent route runner at this stage and Gentry has excellent burst, good quickness and makes plays after the catch. Preztynn Harrison is listed at tight end but the multisport athlete is a hybrid-type target with outstanding length and good ball skills.
Texas Tech has done a good job with early evaluations and might have landed a defensive steal in linebacker Brock Golwas. He’s a thickly built player with versatility, having played multiple positions in high school including Wildcat quarterback. He has good body control and excellent range and has been recorded running over 21 mph in game play.
This class is not as highly ranked as other classes and I am sure this is upsetting, but I also seem to think that this might be a smaller class and maybe the services disagree with the assessments of the staff. Not sure, but this is where it’s at generally speaking.
Red Raider Sports’ Justin Apodaca on how Texas Tech will attempt to stop Tetairoa McMillan:
For defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter, it’s about finding a way to contain McMillan, which he believes could start up front in containing the mobile Fifita.
“We got to give up less explosives. Unfortunately, this is a team with TMac and Fifita,” DeRuyter said. “They do a great job in the scramble drill. Is really when they’re most explosive, they continue plays, and he finds a way to find him.”
24/7 Sports with Big 12 power rankings (can’t we just look at the standings, do we need power rankings in this day and age?):
6. Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-1, 2-0)
Texas Tech has legitimate concerns defensively, but as long as Tahj Brooks and the offense keep clicking, the Red Raiders have the potential to win more shootouts like they did against Cincinnati in Week 5. Texas Tech is a perfect 4-0 this season when Brooks plays. The one game he missed was the road trip to Washington State, which the Red Raiders lost convincingly. Texas Tech has struggled to win on the road against Big 12 opponents since Joey McGuire took over in 2022 with a 3-6 (.333) record in such games. If the Red Raiders can find a way to win at Arizona in Week 6, they will move to 3-0 in conference play for the first time since 2013.
Previous ranking: 8th